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Dear John National will get New Zealand back on track by giving middle-income earners more in their back pockets, accelerating investment in modern, world-class transport infrastructure and funding new treatments for cancer. In this issue:
National's Policy AnnouncementsBack Pocket BoostNational has a plan to rebuild and grow the economy. If elected in October, we will lower inflation and interest rates and help New Zealanders get ahead. Those who work hard, sometimes in multiple jobs, but struggle to get ahead, will get a back-pocket boost. National will allow New Zealanders in 'the squeezed middle' to keep more of their before-tax income. For example, a family with kids, on the average income of $120,000, will be up to $250 a fortnight better off. And an average-income child-free household will be up to $100 a fortnight better off. Full-time earners on the minimum wage will be up to $20 per fortnight better off, and the tax they pay for additional hours worked will be lowered. Superannuitant couples will get up to $26 more per fortnight. Most New Zealanders are going backwards after years of Labour's economic mismanagement, rampant inflation, spiralling interest rates, and a shrinking economy. We will remove some current and planned petrol taxes, reduce taxes and restore interest deducibility on rental properties which have driven rents up, and remove taxes on digital services such as food delivery apps. We will cut the brightline test from10 years to two. National will be disciplined in spending your tax money, cut unnecessary red tape on businesses, build infrastructure like roads and public transport projects to support economic growth, and deliver the education and skills to support a growing economy. From 1 July 2024 we will:
Transport for the FutureNational recently released the Transport for the Future policy to fix the backlog of road maintenance and much-needed development across every region in New Zealand. We need to improve road safety, drive economic growth to lift incomes, tackle congestion and reduce travel times. One of our long-term goals is to have four-lane highways linking Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. National will begin the 16km Waikato Expressway extension from Cambridge to Piarere within the next one to three years if we are elected to govern in October. I have long fought for this project which was due to start in 2018 and would have been finished next year if Labour hadn’t cancelled it when they took office. The estimated cost is now $721 million. Work will continue on the roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH29. Also on the list is an upgrade of the crucial SH5 freight and tourism link between Napier and Taupō which was severely damaged in the recent cyclones. The notorious Taupō-Tūrangi-Waiouru stretch of SH1 is on the list to be fully investigated by NZTA. This section presents many challenges and needs to be considered properly to make the best long-term decisions rather than short-term Band-Aids. A third bridge over the Waikato River in Cambridge is also on National's list for investigation. I've worked with stakeholders across the electorate, and I'm pleased to have four transport projects included in our plan. Helping More Kiwis Fight CancerAround 25,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer each year and 10,000 of them lose their lives.
If elected in October, a National Government will fund 13 types of cancer treatment previously unavailable to New Zealand patients. The treatments for lung, bowel, kidney, and head and neck cancers have been shown to improve survival rates. New Zealanders will no longer have to leave the country, mortgage their family home or rely on Givealittle pages to access these treatments overseas. They will be available to patients whose doctors assess them as having a clinical need. These therapies will be paid for with $280 million in ring-fenced funding to PHARMAC over four years. A $5 prescription fee is less than the cost of a café coffee and many can afford to pay that themselves. Low-income earners and superannuitants will still get free prescriptions. National will drive improvement by restoring health targets, including for cancer treatment times. One in nine New Zealand women get breast cancer. It is most common in women 50 years or older. National will extend the age for free breast cancer screening from 69 to 74 years old. If elected, National plans to increase the number of essential health workers by training another 220 doctors each year and offering nurses and midwives up to $22,500 in student loan forgiveness if they agree to work in New Zealand for at least five years. Electorate NewsDaffodil DayI was pleased to be able to collect for Daffodil Day in Cambridge. I lost both of my parents to cancer, and it is encouraging to see that research is enabling new treatments to be developed which help prolong the lives of sufferers. Christopher Luxon Visits
People were turned away at the doors as the capacity of both the Taupō and Cambridge venues was exceeded at recent meetings with National Party and Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon. I had really positive feedback from people who attended. He is doing a fabulous job communicating how National will get New Zealand back on track if elected to govern in October. Paracyclist MedalistsCongratulations to Cambridge members of the New Zealand Paracycling track team Devon Briggs, Anna Taylor, Nick Blincoe and Eltje Malzbender who won medals at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow recently. Pictured training at the Grassroots Velodrome earlier this year is Ōtorohanga’s Nicole Murray who won medals of each colour at the Glasgow event.
Supercars Return to TaupōTaupō International Motorsport Park will host the Supercars when they return to New Zealand next year. That's great news for the sport and the local economy. In ParliamentDissolution of 53rd Parliament and Election TimetableBelow is a brief timetable of the upcoming election period:
I wish my colleagues who are leaving Parliament well. Todd Muller, Ian McKelvie, Hon David Bennett and Hon Jacqui Dean have served New Zealanders well and will be a loss to the National Party. Their valedictory speeches can be accessed here.
Lake Taupō Christian School Visits ParliamentI hosted Lake Taupō Christian School students in Parliament recently. It's great to see our young people taking an active interest in our democracy.
Out and AboutFriendly ForumsThere was a fantastic turnout for the recent Friendly Forum in Taupō. The venue was packed with people concerned about the direction New Zealand is heading in. They are looking for change.
Taupō Filipino ClubIt was nice to be invited to the oath-taking ceremony for the Taupō Filipino Club. They provide great support to new immigrants.
Rotorua MP and National Party Agriculture Spokesperson Todd McClay VisitsRotorua MP Todd McClay and I attended public rural meetings in Cambridge, Puketurua, Lichfield, Oruanui and Taupō which discussed agri-policy, cutting regulations, lowering emissions and giving more back to our farmers who are driving our nation forward.
Citizenship Ceremony Cambridge
Welcome to Cambridge! Our new citizens received their certificates from Mayor O'Regan recently. I look forward to hearing how you settle into your new lives. Unison Great Lake Taupō Business Awards 2023These awards promote excellence in business, and it was nice to hear of businesses not just surviving, but thriving through hard work, determination, and smart decision making. Congratulations to the well-deserving prizewinners!
Upcoming Engagement OpportunitiesI will be out and about in the community door-knocking in coming weeks and hope to catch up with as many of you as possible when Parliament is dissolved. Facebook LiveJoin me online to discuss the issues that currently concern you on the second Tuesday of each month. My next live chat will be: Tuesday 12 September 8 p.m. Check out my 8 August post here. Tele Town HallWednesday 28 September 8 p.m. You may get a phone call from me inviting you to join a live Tele Town Hall. This is like talk back radio. You can ask me questions live while others listen in – or you can just listen. I hope you can join me. Electorate AssistanceIf you need help from my team, please get in touch. Phone 07 8275572 or email [email protected] Phone 07 8865554 or email [email protected] Phone 07 3765563 or email [email protected] Kind regards, Hon Louise Upston |
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